LIFTS NEW BOSS
Warburton says late goal proves they have desire
Nugent – who had been starved of service in the first-half – then headed the Rams in front, meeting Bradley Johnson’s hanging cross to nod in off the post on 53 minutes.
Ince then clipped the bar with a dipping free-kick on 57 minutes, and young Forest keeper Jordan Smith had to be at his best to turn Alex Pearce’s downward header wide seven minutes later as Derby pressed.
Ince cut inside and fired wide across goal on 74 minutes, and Smith got down well just moments later to turn Jacob But- terfield’s low, skidding effort round the post.
And Smith’s saves were to prove vital as, after substitute Apostolos Vellios had already hit the post in stoppage time, unmarked Pinillos headed in Osborn’s corner in the final minute to equalise.
Rowett was left to rue his side’s failure to see out the game in stoppage-time, but otherwise admitted he had few complaints about his first week in charge.
“You always have to have an overview and rationale about the first game in charge,” he said.
“It was a poor first goal to concede, but I thought after 30 minutes we stepped up.
“In all fairness, I don’t think Forest hurt us apart from the goal.
“We had a couple of moments at 2-1 where we could have taken the game away from them, but the disappointing thing from there is – having been in control – we have to see things out.
“But the players have been really receptive and it’s just a different voice, a different way of doing things and I think they’ve taken it on board this week.”